Hydrangea Paniculata Pinky Winky
Late Spring last year, Myra was searching on line for Hydrangea Paniculata.
We had this shrub many years ago and I was keen to reintroduce it. Recently we had been talking once again about moving house, however we decided we would pot it up and if we did move we would take it with us (well we did move,and we did take it with us)
She didn’t tell me that this form of Hydrangea Paniculata was named (Pinky Winky) Ah well, you cant judge a book by its cover nor a plant by its name.
Well anyway, the shrub arrived in early May, about 30 inches tall and leaves starting to grow. I potted it up in a decent sized container and cut it back to about 12 inches. I didn’t really expect it to bloom in its first year, but it did not bad at all.
The flowers at first open white and as they age turn a definite pink. .
Picture of Pinky Winky above shows how the plant was looking in the second week of August.
The RHS were less concerned about the naming of this plant than I was, in fact it received the prestigious award of garden merit.
I am informed that the blooms of pinky Winky can grow to a length of 16 inches.
By the time mid September came around all the blooms had turned to a distinct dusky shade of pink.
Later on in Autumn new flower buds started to open, giving the shrub a great show of both white and pink blooms at the same time.
I guess I have already forgiven whoever named this shrub Pinky Bloomin Winky, however if I am asked by any visitor the name of this plant I wont be surprised if I simply say Hydrangea Paniculata.
•Hardiness *** Fully hardy
•Position *** Full sun/partial shade
•Soil *** Loamy soil neutral to slightly acidic
•Height *** About 4ft if pruned back hard each Spring
*** Hydrangea paniculata pinky winky ***
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Well, here we are, now living in Cheshire.
No doubt it is going to take some time to feel settled, I have been tiddling about in the garden, and as I have mentioned before it is very much smaller than what we had in Aberdeen.
Last time we moved house, which was twenty eight years ago it was the garden which received our attention first of all.. This time around the house is getting the works first of all.
Here below is a few pictures of the front garden. Its not any smaller than the front garden of our Aberdeen house, very different though and it has the added attraction of being next to a woodland area.
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Here we have the back garden which is going to be a bit of a challenge. Not only is it small but by the time we have our extension built it will be even smaller, on top of that it is north facing. What have you done, I hear you say.
Well, there you go, that’s it. The woodland and Myra’s feeding has attracted masses of garden birds and an equal amount of Squirrels which she finds equally appealing, better plant the Spring bulbs deep though.
I will keep you up to date on what’s going on with us in Cheshire East.
ps never did find a way of adding the video of our appearance on Gardeners World, never mind, you didn’t miss very much.
If you happen to leave a comment I will be sure to visit your site and do the same
© 2014 – 2015, Alistair. All rights reserved.
Alistair,
So glad you and Myra had a smooth transition in the big move. Your space looks full of potential. Sounds to me like the backyard should become an intimate patio area massed with containers that include a sprinkling of them with evergreens for four season interest. There’s nothing like the potential of annual combinations of thrillers…Nothing more intimate in a courtyard than a gentle waterfall and fish. Alistair, take what’s perceived as your biggest weakness and turn it into one of your biggest assets. Happy New Year, my learned friend.
Hi Patrick
Good to here from you and I will take your wise suggestions on board.
All the best to you Alistair in your new home. I am sure you and your wife will come to love living there. Pinky Winky will make it a good start.
Thanks Patty
Once we feel more settled, I am sure we will come to like it here in Cheshire.
Congratulations on your move. Hope you are settling in well. To name a plant ‘Pinky Winky’ is not, I would suggest, a canny commercial move. Perhaps it was sabotage?
The garden; the front looks great. The woodland makes it look much bigger than it is. The back – a wonderful palette for all thing things you will want to do to make it your own.
Have a great 2014. Hope you aren’t getting too wet.
Esther
Hi Esther
I have managed to avoid getting drenched, in fact its been not bad at all. The front garden is definitely looking better than the back at the moment.
Hi Alistair,
Great to see your new garden. As you say North facing could be a challenge, but if you managed such a beautiful garden in Aberdeen with our colder climate and shorter growing season then you can easily cope with a North facing back garden in Cheshire.
My in-laws were from Cheshire and they always said it was ‘an overcoat colder’ up here in Aberdeen!
Good Luck!
Hi Annette
I dont think there will be any major changes to our garden this year, other than part of the back being demolished with the extension.
it’s wonderful to have a backdrop of trees to set off your new garden. The ‘borrowed landscape’ of a garden setting is so important.
That is a gorgeous hydrangea although like you I couldn’t bring myself to buy one with such a cringe-making name. It’s like all those Hemerocallis with names that you could never bear to introduce into your garden in case anyone asked you what it is.
Good luck with the new garden.
Chloris.
Hi Chloris
Thanks for dropping by. I do think the backdrop makes all the difference. I am not surprised you share my view regarding the name pinky winky.
Hello Alistair! Let the games begin!! Larry
All systems go Larry.
Your new garden is really quite beautiful. I love the wall of green. It will be fun to see what pops up throughout the year, and to see how you are going to improve and add to it. And the woodland background is such a delight. You don’t have to worry about encroaching neighbors and Myra can attract all sorts of birds and other wildlife. A new home, a new garden – a new chapter. Exciting times ahead!
Hi Holley
We will give it a full season before making any serious changes. Myra is already doing a good job in attracting garden birds.
What a wonderful setting for your front garden Alistair, as has already been said – having the woodland as a back drop is a marvellous thing.
Your back garden will get the Aberdeen Gardeners’ touch in no time I’m sure.
It will be nice to sit back and enjoy what will appear before you make your start.
Wishing Myra and yourself a Guid New Year in your new home!
Thanks Angie
The front garden is a treat compared to the back. Enjoy your garden this year, I always feel the gardening season begins now after all the hoo ha of the festive season. (what a misery guts)
Happy New Year Alistair! Pleased to see that you and Myra have settled into your new home. I look forward to seeing how you plant the front and back. You pretty much have an empty palette, which is always fun. There are so many lovely hydrangea, Pinky Winky among them (even though the name is a bit comical.)
Happy gardening in 2014. I look fwd to doing the same once all the snow and ice leaves our area…still at least 3 months to go……
Hi Astrid
Not really sure what we are doing with the garden yet. I think this season it will simply be a case of keeping it tidy.
Good to see you back in blogland, Alistair. It’s exciting to have a new garden to lick into shape — looks like it has great potential. It’s wise of you to take your time before making big changes. I wish you and Myra every happiness in your new home! P. x
Thanks Pam, hope you are coping with the severe winter weather.
Great to see you back. Here’s to New Beginnings & a Happy New Year to you both. Excited to see what you create in Cheshire x
Thanks Jane, it will take a bit of time but it will be good to see it come together.
I am absolutely thrilled to see you back on your blog. And the new garden looks positively gigantic compared to what you had prepared me for. AND north-facing is wonderful, think of all the shade plants you can grow. Get a few hellebores and snowdrops in now and you are good for the next couple of months. I agree with Larry, let the games begin.
The back will be a bit of a building site for a while come April but I will be glad to get all the house stuff over with. Our first house had a north facing back garden and it wasn’t all that bad. When the sun shines there is already a bit of heat in our south facing front
Alistair I was so happy to find this post in my inbox. You have one of my favorite hydrangeas. And it certainly loved your climate. I like the bones of your garden. You have so much to work with and I know you will cleverly plant an amazing garden in the back.
It is so nice to see so much green as we have lots of snow and arctic temps. Happy New Year!!
Its good to be back Donna. We are working on designs for the back at the moment, see how it goes. Keep safe in those sub zero temps.
Wow!!
I’m sure now it would feel like a fresh new start in getting into gardening all over again.
Have a fresh wonderful New Year with your new garden Alistair!
Thanks James
I look forward to seeing what you get up to in 2014.
Hi Alistair, so good to see you back blogging, great to see photos of your new garden! Your description of your ‘small’ garden makes mine….tiny! You have ample space to fill it with thousands of plants and bulbs, it’s just a matter of how you stack them 🙂 Good luck with all the planning, have fun!
Hi Helene
I have a feeling the back garden is much the same size as yours.
I wish you the very best in your new home and garden. It looks like you are off to a good start. I like Pinky Winky, a very nice looking plant. It will fun to see how your design develops. Glad to see you back.
Thanks for the welcome back Donna.
good to see you settling in. That garden has potential and I very much look forward to following along as you make it your own!
Cant wait to get stuck into it.
Happy New Year to you and Myra, and may you enjoy your new home and garden! It looks like you have a lot to work with, and I am sure that in a season or two it will be absolutely stunning. I am looking forward to watching progress in your 2014 blog posts.
Small space Deb, but a lot to do.
Alistair, I know you will miss your beautiful Aberdeen garden, but I agree with the others that this one seems to have wonderful potential. I’m sure you will have fun developing it into another much-loved garden.
It will just take time to adapt to the change Jean.
Goodness, Alistair, I take a break from blogging and you move house! What an adventure. I am sure you will make your new garden beautiful, I was always amazed at how lovely your old (?) garden is. I like hydrangeas whose flowers age to pink.
Seems like a few of us have had a break Masha.
Happy new year Alastair! I love hydrangeas, and though Pinky Winky does have a silly name, it is really pretty with the mid-season mix of white and pink blooms.
I am so excited to see your new garden! It is smaller, but does seem to have some great features like privacy hedging in the back garden. It is nice that the front is near a wooded area as well. I am sure you will do great things with this new property as soon as the house itself is sorted. All the best for 2014!
It does have its pluses Jennifer. The back garden is also bordered by the woodland, amazing amount of garden birds visiting.
Hi Alistair and it’s great to read that you and Myra have settled in well to Cheshire life. Lovely to get a little glimpse of your new garden and it’s full of potential for sure! By the time you’ve got the internal work done you’ll have discovered what little bulbs there are too in the garden.
Hi Rosie
I am afraid Myra at the moment isn’t making much of it. I can only hope that in time she will feel more settled.
Hi Alistair.
I didn’t expect you to start blogging again so soon so I missed this post when it first appeared. The garden looks full of promise but I expect it will take a while to sort out what you have. The advice which is often given is to leave it alone for the first year to see what comes up………I have yet to meet a true gardener that could do that!
Wont make any serious changes for a while Rick, well to be quite honest, even then they may be superficial.